Machine for folding cloth.



K. KU NZI.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING CLOTH.

APPLICATION FILED (rum, 1912.

1,097,649, Patented May 26, 19m

COLUMBIA PLANOGRM'H c0.,wAsmNu r t.

KARL KT TNZI, OF SOHAFFI-IAUSEN, SWITZERLAND.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING CLOTH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 19M.

Application filed January 5, 1912. Serial No. 669,549.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KARL KI'J'NZI, a citizen of the German Empire, andresident of Schaffhausen, Switzerland, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Machines for Folding Cloth, of which thefollowing is a specification, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a machine for folding cloth in layers, saidmachine be ng of the type having a reciprocating folding arm on whichrollers are mounted, and according to my invention the said folder is sodesigned that the rollers are moved underneath fold grippers and at thebeginning of their return movement from these grippers are adapted toroll thereon, the said rolling havingthe effect of preventing thewithdrawal of the cloth from beneath the grippers which would occur ifrollers were not used. In addition to this the cloth is folded in layersvery evenly without breaking or unduly pressing same.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one form of my invention, in whichFigure 1 is a vertical section through a machine, the greater part ofwhich is shown. Fig. 2 shows a roller under a cyl ndrical gripper. Figs.3 and t show modifications in the construction of the gripper.

The machine as shown in Fig. 1 comprises a frame 1 on the base of wincha shaft 2 is mounted and serves as a plvot for a one armed lever 3, theupper end of which is pivotally connected at 3 to the center portion ofa T-shaped folder 4 the stem l of which is held in a turnable guide 5.

The ends of the head portion of the layer t are provided with arms 6 and6 upon which the rollers are mounted while a horizontal table 7supported by springs 8 is arranged on the frame, the said springstending to press the table against the cylindrical grippers 9 and 9',whose weight, however, is greater than the force of the sprmgs 8. Thesegrippers are arranged on one arm levers 10 and 10 which are pivoted tothe frame 1 and limited in their downward movement by projections 11-11'on the frame 1.

It is to be noted that the table 7 is supported solely by the springs 8and that these springs are arranged at opposite ends of the table sothat, when one end of the table is forced down the remaining end willremain elevated and firmly grip any cloth which may lie beneath therespective gripper.

The machine works substantially as follows: The lever 3 moving in thedirection indicated by the arrow, carries the cloth 12 which isintroduced into the machine from above and has to be folded upon thetable 7. The said cloth partly incloses the roller 6 in such a mannerthat the latter can roll along the cloth when turning in the directioiishown by the arrow. This roller depresses the end of the table andcarries the cloth under the gripper 9 raising the latter as it passesbeneath and at the beginning of the return movement of the roller theraised gripper 9 rests with its full weight upon the cloth, thus holdingit while the roller moves back, the said grippers being raised in knownmanner by some suitable means, as above described. The other roller 6then comes into contact with the cloth and depresses the end of thetable and carries it under the gripper 9 as shown in dotted lines, andleaving it there permits the first roller to again carry the cloth underthe gripper 9.

A particular advantage of my invention with regard to hitherto knownmachines for the same purposes is that the resistance between the clothand the laying device is greatly reduced as in the machines hithertomade the arms of the layer have been rigid thus very considerablefriction has been en countered on the cloth, in addition to whichadvantage the foldings cannot be accidentally withdrawn from underneaththe gripper after having once been placed there.

It must be understood that the grippers may be of any convenient formfor example, that shown in Fig. 3 is of segmental cross section whilethat shown in t is rectangular.

l Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. ln a foldingmachine, a frame, a table, springs at each end of said table arranger tosupport the table on the frame, an arm mounted to oscillate beside saidtable, a rocking frame supported onsaid arm, spaced cloth engagingrollers carried by said frame and extending across said table, saidrollers being adapted to depress alternate ends of the table uponoscillation of said arm, means to rock said frame on the arm while thelatter is oscillating, and grippers located above the table at each endthereof.

2. In a folding machine, a frame, a table, springs at each end of saidtable arranged to support the table on the frame, an arm mounted tooscillate beside said table, a rocking frame supported on said arm,spaced cloth engaging rollers carried by said frame and extending acrosssaid table, said rollers being adapted to depress alternate ends of thetable upon oscillation of said arm, means to rock said frame on the armWhile the latter is oscillating, said means comprising a sleevepivotally mounted on said frame above the center of oscillation of thearm, and a second arm fixed to said frame and slidable through saidsleeve, and grippers located above the table at each end thereof.

3. In a folding machine, a frame, a table, springs at each end of saidtable arranged to support the table on the frame, an arm mounted tooscillate beside said table, a'

Loeaeae rocking frame supported on said arm, spaced cloth engagingrollers carried by said frame and extending across said table, saidrollers being adapted to depress alternate ends of the table uponoscillation of said arm, means to rock said frame on the arm while thelatter is oscillating, said means comprising a sleeve pivotally mountedon said frame above the center of oscillation of the arm, and a secondarm fixed to said frame and slidable through said sleeve, and gripperslocated above the table at each end hereof, said grippers eachconsisting of a roller adapted to engage the table when the latter is inelevated position, and arms pivotally connecting said roller to theframe.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

KARL KUNZI.

lVitnesses:

Dr. GOTTLIEB BRANOHLIN, CARL CUBLER.

Oopiee of thin patent may be obtained or five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

7 Washington, D. G.

